Proposal for Amendment to the Constitution

This is from an email which is in circulation which I wanted to post on this blog.

It isn't perfect but it addresses a number of issues which have frustrated many of us. Maybe if a Grassroots effort gets momentum, some of these issues will be addressed, possibly by Amendment and possibly by legislation.

The problem now is that we have the fox guarding the hen house. We are the chicken being plucked!

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The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months and 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc..

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. Term Limits. 12 years only, one of the possible options below..

A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms

2. No Tenure / No Pension.

A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

3. Congress (past , present and future) participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12.

The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

Importance of Redistricing and the Tennor of Legislature

As we enter into the process of sculpting the Legislative Districts for the State of Maryland, we need to look past boundaries and seriously consider the impact these new districts will have on our Country, Our State and ourselves. If we continue to have districts which are politically drawn with unstated but implicit goal of safe seats for the "party faithful" and if the "party faithful" are fanatically "left" or "right", then we will guarantee a continuing dysfunctional Congress.

When it passed the law requiring single-member elections, Congress also created some vague rules for drawing the boundaries of congressional districts; each state's voting districts were supposed to be geographically contiguous, compact in shape, and roughly equal in population.

But those rules were pretty loose and subjective, which opened the door for state politicians to pull all kinds of shenanigans in drawing district boundaries for partisan gain. This is known as gerrymandering—the manipulation of the boundaries of congressional districts to serve the interests of the political party drawing the boundaries. (The odd-sounding name comes from founding father Elbridge Gerry, who was serving as Governor of Massachusetts in 1812 when he drew up the state's legislative districts to favor his own Democratic-Republican Party. Gerry's critics thought that one of the resulting districts, a snakelike creation stretching northeast from Boston, looked like a salamander—a monstrous creation they called a "Gerrymander." From http://www.shmoop.com/legislative-branch/house-of-representatives.html

As the Sunpapers so accurately noted, there is little moderation in Congress and few members are "middle of the road".

Thanks to gerrymandered congressional districts that mean many representatives face competition only in their party primaries, there are few centrists left, and members of both parties' fringes not only have an incentive to embrace extremism but reason to fear for their re-election prospects if they don't. The Baltimore Sunpapers Editioral August 2, 2011.

If the constituents are moderate, then how do we end up with "representatives" who do not represent our ideals and principals? The simple reason is that we have abandoned responsibility.

We as a citizenry have abdicated our role to be involved in our government and have allowed party “hacks” and “zealots” to take control of the local County Party and Central Committees.

Is it any wonder that the individuals who are supported by the local party are carbon copies of the ideology of the Central Committee? That the candidates are extreme and not moderate? That collectively we hold our nose when we cast our votes?

The Calendar for Public Hearings on Redistricting has begun.

Here is the calendar, we need to take notice, educate ourselves and let our voices be heard,

Public hearings will start at the designated time and end following the last testimony of registered persons.

The hearings and start times will be:
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The Universities at Shady Grove
Building #1 Auditorium
Starts at 7:00 p.m.
9630 Gudelsky Drive
Rockville, MD 20850 (Driving Directions)
Parking in lot 2
• Public Testimony Advance Sign-in

Friday, August 12, 2011
Morgan State University
Student Center - Calvin & Tina Tyler Ballroom (Campus Map)
Starts at 7:00 p.m.
1700 East Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore MD 21251 (Driving Directions)
Park in the stadium parking garage (13 on map) and take bridge on 3rd level into the Student Center
• Public Testimony Advance Sign-in
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
College of Southern Maryland
Center for Business and Industry, #113 (Campus Map)
Starts at 7:00 p.m.
8730 Mitchell Road
La Plata, MD 20646 (Driving Directions)
Park in lots 2, 6 & 7 – Most convenient to BI
• Public Testimony Advance Sign-in

Saturday, August 27, 2011
Harford Community College
Amoss Center (next to Harford Technical H.S.) (Campus Map)
Starts at 11:00 a.m.
200 Thomas Run Road
Bel Air, MD 21015 (Driving Directions)
Parking all around school
• Public Testimony Advance Sign-in
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Towson University
Stephens Hall Theater (Campus Map)
Starts at 2:00 p.m.
8000 York Road
Towson, MD 21252 (Driving Directions)
• Public Testimony Advance Sign-in

Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Anne Arundel Community College
Center for Applied Learning & Technology (CALT) 100 (Campus Map)
Starts at 4:00 p.m.
101 College Parkway
Arnold, MD 21012 (Driving Directions)
• Public Testimony Advance Sign-in
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Howard County
Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, Room 4 (Campus Map)
Starts at 7:00 p.m.
10431 Twin Rivers Road
Columbia MD , 21044 (Driving Directions)
• Public Testimony Advance Sign-in

Open Letter to Washington about the Budget

It has been over 800 days since our Government has had a budget.

This is not a GOP or Democrat issue, it is a symptom of dysfunction resulting from a misguided intransigent positioning along party lines. I am concerned with belligerent, opposition Senator Reid has taken in regard to the budgets which have been passed by the House of Representatives.

As elected officials our Representatives and Senators have the responsibility to put COUNTRY FIRST, above party interest and above the next election.

If a serious, even flawed, budget is presented, please work to bring it to the floor for debate and passage. It may not be a Democratic budget, but we have not seen a budget from the Democrats.

As the Government looks to determine who to pay and who not to pay, let me suggest that unless and until a budget is passed and signed into law, no one in the Legislature or Executive Branch be compensated or have expenses paid or reimbursed. None have earned remuneration until they do.

We will all watch to see what action and resolution is made of this crisis, it will significantly influence who returns after the next election.

Please cross over party lines and work towards a compromise, be a statesman you were elected to be.

What a Game

Last night I thought I was going to a baseball game with the O's vs the Nationals but left with a football game score of 17 to 5. Two touchdowns and a field goal vs a filed goal and a safety. Great temperature and low humidity, friends all around a great night for baseball. Then the opening pitch and the slide down began. The Nationals had a exceptional game 6 home runs! The O's just demonstrated their pitching problems and lack of offense. However 5 runs with good pitching should win games.

All in all at least it took my sorrows away from the economy, our representatives in power etc, but on looking again our nemesis remains connected to DC, only this time it's the baseball team.

If the Rapture is coming, I am unconcerned that any from Capital Hill or the White House will be with us. If they are, then God really is a mystery!

Being generous with other's money

What recently caught my ear and made me think was Obama's generosity with Egypt and the other Arab countries "going through transition", i.e. change in government. Evidently not only do we give Egypt 1 Billion Dollars annually but they also owe us 1 Billion Dollars. Our magnanimous and generous President has the "courage" to tell Egypt, never mind, you don't need to pay your debt to us and ah yes, we will continue to send you our dollars. Now he also wants to purchase friendship on the Arab streets in Egypt, and other Arab countries. I think he'd welcome the change no chance to join the Arab Brotherhood. But my question is if the Arab nations need support, where are the Oil Rich Arab Countries? Doesn't Saudi Arabia have substantial surplus? Don't they have an obligation to support brother Arabs. Or are we the patsy? WE should go broke sending more money to the Arabs so we can rack up our public debt so as not to burden our "friends" in Arabia.

It's time to realize they are not friends or allies. They may not hate us but they certainly do not willingly support us. Stop bankrupting our future generations by sending any money to Arabia. Maybe we should expect to be paid by the Oil Producing Arab Countries for being their mercenaries and protecting these rich dictatorships.

I am not a foreign policy expert but something just does not balance.

Government as usual must stop.

Our Politicians have been given a free ride by the press and the electorate.

What is troubling is that there isn't much more that rumbling in the street.

Thoughts on the "Holidays" and Christmas

It may be my old fashioned perspective, my love of history and tradition, maybe and most probably my faith but I have grown up with Christmas. As a child it was a time for Santa Claus, presents and being off from school. Then later, the presents were not as important and Santa lost his luster but the joy of the season and a few days off were important. Once I had children, Santa reappeared in the eyes and giggles and belly laughs the boys enjoyed as they opened the gifts. That was priceless. Yes, I was truly in the Holiday spirit.

But as I have "matured", I realized that there are only so many things you need or want. Learning about the reason for the holiday and really attempting to understand has changed my mind. As a Christian and a Catholic, the season brings a new joy, a new found perspective.

We are all human with the various strengths and weaknesses. One weakness which seems to be growing is that of lack of appreciation for the blessings we have and a lack of belief in God. In these secular times, it is naive to show or demonstrate faith. Of course, political correctness, thought control, doesn't want to offend any one, except people of Faith in Christ. It is more appropriate to take credit for what "we" have accomplished, of who "we" are.

I can only look around me and see that there is something far greater than I at work here. We are blessed to be in the here and now. These are truly great times in which we live and while the work of humans accomplished much, it is from God's blessings that we have attained what we have and it is appropriate for us to acknowledge this.

My faith teaches that " 'THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH. YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:29~31

These two rules may seem trite in these modern times but they give comfort and guidance to us in these complicated and sophisticated times. Our faith philosophy can be synthesized into these two concepts. Love God and Love one another. What other guidance do we need to develop our relationships with one another?

Personally I have witnessed the power, love and joy of following these principals which have been ingrained in Christian and Catholic Faith.

Christmas is the time for new beginnings. It is the time God so showed His love for us that He became man. Why did He become man other than to show us the way to true happiness and joy? Our salvation starts on Christmas.

So I say to you; "MERRY CHRISTMAS"

Telling the truth

After sitting on the sideline for quite some time, I at last have something to say. I was impressed by State Senator Jim Roby's candid and honest remark during the campaign that it costs to maintain the level of services we expect from the government and unless we want less services, and a reduced quality of life, he could not promise to cut spending and he could not promise not to raise taxes.Good for him! At last we have a candidate who is not pandering to the public with campaign rhetoric which everyone knows is just that.

Like everyone else I hate Government waste but does anyone honestly believe that it is continued intentionally? This waste is in the eyes of the beholder or by the constituency which does not support that particular program.

How about state construction contracts which require the successful bidder to pay union scale, even it they are a non union shop. The regulations are not this explicit but the net effect is to make State Construction more expensive than it needs to be. The contractors dislike this requirement in that it increases their payroll, the unions support this in that it makes union contractors competitive for State Contracts.

How about unemployment? When someone is unemployed getting a weekly benefit check, now for 99 weeks, is a safety net which helps them survive ( barely) but does this extended benefit encourage them to stay unemployed just a little longer?  If you look to Europe where extended benefits have been reduced. Funny thing, those looking for work seem to find work in less time now. I want to assist those looking for work but don't want to assist them any longer than it takes to find a job, not necessarily the best job but any job.

Pick the area of Government where you see waste. Is it possible that someone else sees it as a necessary, needed and appropriate use of government funds?

I think it is time that everyone change what we expect the government to do. It's time for a Pyridine shift. Individuals and business need to expect less from Government. Government has to stop attempting to please various vocal constituencies and start to examine it's rightful roles.

JFK on his election had a noble statement which sounded good, too bad no one accepted the challenge:

"Ask not what Your Country can do for you, Ask what you can do for Your Country."

It rang true in 1961 and it rings true with a little more urgency in 2010.

Political Season Observations and ramblings (Sorry)

I enjoyed attending the two forums sponsored by the Howard County Chamber of Commerce which gave local races visibility which they seldom get. The Councilmatic races were exceptional in that we saw both contenders for all but one race. It was quite beneficial, for me, to listen to the County Executive discussions and to actually listen to each candidate. The following forum for the Annapolis races (Delegate and Senate) were also exceptionally informative.  The forums did allow for cheap attacks on occasion, but also allowed almost every candidate make the customary promise not to raise taxes, to cut wasteful spending, etc. etc. etc.  It was refreshing to hear Senator Robey take the stand that if you want to maintain the quality of life we enjoy in Howard County, it cost money. Good for you Senator.

Historically I have considered my self to be conservative but that has changed. I have moved to the middle. I still question the ability of government to be efficient  and believe that the economy is best if there is a true free market with only basic regulatory oversight. But government has a basic role which only government can fill, specifically in the area of public safety, transportation, assistance to the needy and education. Attention to these areas have a direct impact on our quality of life.

We are truly blessed to be living here now. Howard County has an exceptionally good standard of living and quality of life. Maryland is "The Land of Pleasant Living". All this costs. It is paid for by taxes.I do not like to pay taxes any more or less than my neighbor, but the quality of life we enjoy in Howard County costs and I am willing to pay for it to continue.

We are fortunate to have quality Howard County candidates which we do.

With the various attack "advertisements" on the airways, I am disappointed that our potential governor, has no ideas or issues which he intends to pursue or initiate if elected. The only discourse being presented is how bad the other candidate was/is as governor. How the other candidate: increased taxes more then this candidate or increased spending , etc. etc. etc.  But what do you intend to do, Governor?


My plea is that there be more "civility" in the exchange.  The Candidates should candidly state what they intend to do in the the way of legislation if elected. Have open debates and cease hostile campaigns.

Letter to Senator Mikulski on American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010

Please Join Senator Olympia Snowe and Senator Mike Enzi to support their amendment to strike the provision of American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 which selectively assesses self employment taxes on profits within S Corporations which are identified as a "Disqualified Corporation" where the principal asset of such business is the reputation and skill of 3 or fewer employees." (Sec. 413)

S Corporations are currently required to pay a reasonable compensation to all officer-shareholders who provide services to the corporation. This compensation is subject to all Federal Employment Taxes.  (Revenue Ruling 73-361)

Please work to protect Small Businesses and remove Section 413 in it's entirety from American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010

This one section will overburden already overburdened small businesses in Maryland.

Please keep in mind Winston Churchill's statement:

"Some see Private Enterprise as a predatory target to be shot. Others as a cow to be milked. But few are those who see it as it is, the sturdy horse pulling the wagon."

Which are you?

Thank you for considering this request for action.

Clarksville Funeral Home some observations

There is currently ongoing hearings for conditional use variance for a Funeral Home on a lot zoned for residential use. The location is on 3.5 acres along MD Route 108. The lot is situated between  A Lutheran Church to the south and to the north, the residence for the priests at St Louis Catholic Church. 

There are numerous considerations in opposition to granting the zoning variance.

One  issue, as I see it, is not that a funeral home is potentially to be built in the lot but rather the SIZE and SCOPE of the facility. The neighboring residences range from 2,000 + sq ft to 6,000 + sq ft. The funeral HOME will be 23,000+ sq ft.

I have difficulty in imagining a structure, no matter how well landscaped, being compatible with the residences in the vicinity, as required by the County regulations. 

The concept of a Funeral Home in the regulations is archaic and has not been modernized for current operations. Funeral Homes no longer have the funeral director living upstairs with the viewing in the front parlor, as was the practice when the zoning regulations were drafted. 

The proposed operation will have 3 viewing rooms, a memorial chapel to seat 150+, a social gathering hall for receptions with kitchen facilities and a hearse museum. 

The parking on the plans is for approximately 65 cars. At first look, parking is inadequate and the overflow will most likely park along Route 108, and in both church parking lots. 

The next consideration is traffic.  The traffic along Route 108 is also a problem, the fact that the church WHICH IS CURRENTLY THERE adds to the traffic in not the issue, the issue is the ADDITIONAL strain this operation will ADD to the traffic on Route 108. 

Furthermore, safety is in question with turning lanes, and the lanes to merge in to ongoing traffic as well as to slow down to turn into the  facility. There are no plans with State Roads to make any improvements in this regard.

Does Clarksville need a Funeral Home? 

Probably.

Is this the best location? 

Definitely not. 

As to development of the 3.5 acre lot in question,  a home for the elderly may be a more appropriate use, one which will not disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of the residential community nor significantly contribute to the congestion, traffic or safety along Route 108.

Thoughts on Immigration

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

Sound familiar? 

It is high time that we control our borders and review the process for aliens to enter our country LEGALLY. We are a country of immigrants. We were taught that is what made us strong. And it DID.

However in the time of celebrating DIVERSITY and of Press ONE for English, the current wave of immigrants are not blending into our society but rather want the benefits with the option to remain  separate. The trouble with the current immigration is that they come and stay separate. They do not learn our customs. They do not learn our language. They don't appear to have the dream to become "Americans" as our forefathers did.

We need immigrants and we can certainly appreciate and honor their society and diversity but first, they need to obey our laws just as we do and then they need to embrace OUR Society  just as we do and Our Language  just as we do with the goal to become not separate but rather one of US.


If immigrants expect the benefits of our society, then join it and help strengthen it. We were proud to be called The Melting Pot. Now we need to find a way to strengthen our society by having a system which is fair to those who want to join us and become one of us with the goal of making Our Society Stronger.

There are no easy answers or easy fixes. The frustration is that we are expecting politicians to solve this extremely complex dilemma. We need statesmen who we can call upon to serve the Country's best interest and forget the party and forget being reelected. They are the only one's who can possibly accomplish this.

"Town Hall" Meetings... Right

My Congressman Elijah Cummings (D,MD) has hosted call in High Tech "Town Hall" Meetings to inform constituents on the Government(Democrat's)proposed Health Care Legislation. I applaud the concept but question the medium.

At a face to face Town Hall Meeting, there is public discourse and free access. Opposing views are physically present and can be heard without going through a staff member who can "screen" calls and can "terminate" any "objectionable" calls.

While the concept seems efficient and increases access, it also, for a skeptic as I am, gives a subtle and silent ability to the host (Congressman Cummings and his staffers)to control discourse and influence public opinion by selectivity in which caller are given "air time".

I do not trust the transparency of any politician, especially on highly inflammatory issues such as this.

With the Obama White House asking for the NAMES of critics of the Health Care Legislation, I am reminded of President Nixon's Enemies list. Does anyone else see the similarity? But don't expect it to get the air time Nixon's list did.

Change is here, like it or not! Just please don't believe them when they say it has popular support.

Serious Threat

I fear that the true purpose of the "Change" our President intends is starting to be revealed. In one sense it is politics as usual and that is no real surprise. The radical tenor of the change and the recanting of political campaign rhetoric after the election are no real surprise.

The bail out of the economy which is in fact rewards for and to campaign supporters will bankrupt our economy. Yet, where is the stimulus and what positive affect has been realized?

The rush for Health Care reform, actually, the installation of a socialized Health Care System, is another unaffordable burden which increased Government involvement in our daily lives and actually in our very continuation of life. If this passes, the Freedom of Choice legislation will be totally unnecessary since the legislation requires federal support for abortion. Managed Health Care is another term for rationing.

Our newly elected Supreme Court Justice is another Liberal who will insert her Living Constitution on us. She had demonstrated via the most recent Supreme Court REVERSAL of her landmark decision the rush to opine based upon beliefs with a total lack of analysis or due consideration of existing case law.

The refusal to consider simple requests for legislation to be published 48 hours before any vote and a request that Congressmen and Senators actually READ the bills before they VOTE on them has been dismissed as IRRESPONSIBLE! Imagine that!

We must remain vigilant. Pray that our Republic survives until after the 2010 election and the populace wakes up and reconsiders the support for a radical Democratic policymakers.

In 2010 VOTE EVERY INCUMBENT OUT regardless of party.

Clean House and start over.

American Papist: Not Your Average Catholic!: Round-up: Bishops who have responded to Notre Dame's Obama invitation (27)

American Papist: Not Your Average Catholic!: Round-up: Bishops who have responded to Notre Dame's Obama invitation (27)

The Political Coffeehouse: Jake DeSantis

The Political Coffeehouse: Jake DeSantis

REAL Responsible Education About Life Act

Rather than look at the realization that Government is ready to take on the sex education of all children under the guise that morality is not effective, the main issue is the expansion and acceptance of a secular society and a dismissal of morality as ineffective.

It is also the intrusion of Government into our daily lives into areas previously reserved for family and faith. Government "Leaders" have accepted that sex is rampant and that is acceptable behavior. Day care in High Schools is expected. The majority of the children born in the USA are out of wedlock. If we expect success here then look at the stellar results in the basics: reading, writing and arithmetic! With all the funds going into education now, our graduates should be more than spoiled illiterates! Look at the examples we see daily in the Capital and then answer the question; Are these individuals the ones we want to hold up as examples of respectable, prudent, intelligent, responsible, moral behavior? I thought not!

Permissiveness is demanded. Accountability is denied.

The issue isn't "allowing" sex education in school, the real issue is where is our morality? What needs to be taught is that every action has a result. Our children need to be taught that along with the result there comes responsibility. All behavior is not acceptable. To delegate to the Government our responsibility to teach our children how to be moral and responsible is in itself irresponsible.

What if she had said no?

On the feast of the Annunciation, I went back into my "library" and found this article from http://www.universalis.com/.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


What if she had said No?

The question may strike you as irreverent. How dare I suggest that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven, Co-Redemptrix of mankind, could have left us in the lurch like that?

But what if she had?

Could she have said No? You might say that of course she couldn’t, she was far too holy — but you would be guilty of demeaning and dangerous sentimentality. It is demeaning because it turns Our Lady from a free human being into a sanctified automaton. The whole glory of the Annunciation is that Mary, the second Eve, could have said No to God but she said Yes instead. That is what we celebrate, that is what we praise her for; and rightly so.

This sentimental view is dangerous too. If we believe that the most important decision in the history of the world was in fact inevitable, that it couldn’t have been otherwise, then that means it was effortless. Now we have a marvelous excuse for laziness. Next time we’re faced with a tough moral decision, we needn’t worry about doing what is right. Just drift, and God will make sure that whatever choice we make is the right one. If God really wants us to do something he’ll sweep us off his feet the way he did Mary, and if he chooses not to, it’s hardly our fault, is it?

So Mary could have said No to Gabriel. What if she had? He couldn’t just go and ask someone else, like some sort of charity collector. With all the genealogies and prophecies in the Bible, there was only one candidate. It’s an alarming thought. Ultimately, of course, God would have done something: the history of salvation is the history of him never abandoning his people however pig-headed they were. But God has chosen to work through human history. If the first attempt at redemption took four thousand years to prepare, from the Fall to the Annunciation, how many tens of thousands of years would the next attempt have taken?

Even if the world sometimes makes us feel like cogs in a machine, each of us is unique and each of us is here for a purpose: just because it isn’t as spectacular a purpose as Mary’s, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. When we fail to seek our vocation, or put off fulfilling some part of it, we try to justify ourselves by saying that someone else will do it better, that God will provide, that it doesn’t really matter. But we are lying. However small a part I have to play, the story of the Annunciation tells me it is my part and no-one else can do it.


Faced with the enormity of her choice, how was Mary able to decide? If she said No, unredeemed generations would toil on under the burden of sin. If she said Yes, she herself would suffer, and so would her Son; but both would be glorified. Millions of people not yet born would have Heaven open to them; but millions of others would suffer oppression and death in her son’s name. The stakes were almost infinite.
You might say that Mary didn’t worry about all this, just obeyed God; but I don’t believe it. What God wanted was not Mary’s unthinking obedience but her full and informed consent as the representative of the entire human race. The two greatest miracles of the Annunciation are these: that God gave Mary the wisdom to know the consequences of her decision, and that he gave her the grace not to be overwhelmed by that knowledge.
When we come to an important decision in our lives, we can easily find our minds clouded by the possible consequences, or, even more, by partial knowledge of them. How can we ever move, when there is so much good and evil whichever way we go? The Annunciation gives us the answer. God’s grace will give us the strength to move, even if the fate of the whole world is hanging in the balance. After all, God does not demand that our decisions should be the correct ones (assuming that there even is such a thing), only that they should be rightly made.

There is one more truth that the Annunciation teaches us, and it is so appalling that I can think of nothing uplifting to say about it that will take the sting away: perhaps it is best forgotten, because it tells us more about God than we are able to understand. The Almighty Father creates heaven and earth, the sun and all the stars; but when he really wants something done, he comes, the Omnipotent and Omniscient, to one of his poor, weak creatures — and he asks.

And, day by day, he keeps on asking us.

Parent's Prayer

There are frequently prayers which we come to love.

This one I found in the church missile when I had my two young sons living at home.

This prayer faithfully captures the essence of parenthood to me in an extremely personal way.

Not only did I pray this prayer but I attempted to live it daily.

I hope it will be as beneficial to you the reader as it has been to me.

Parent's Prayer

Most loving Father, the example of parenthood, you have entrusted our children to us to bring them up for you and prepare them for everlasting life. Assist us with your grace, that we may fulfill this sacred duty with competence and love. Teach us what to give and what to withhold. Show us when to reprove, when to praise and when to be silent. Make us gentle and considerate, yet firm and watchful. Keep us from the weakness of indulgence and the excess of severity. Give us the courage to be disliked sometimes by our children, when we must do necessary things which are displeasing in their eyes. Give us the imagination to enter their world in order to understand and guide them. Grant us all the virtues we need to lead them by word and example in the ways of wisdom and piety. One day, with them, may we enter into the joys of our true and everlasting home with you in heaven.

Amen.

AIG, Congress and the Constitution

We all object to the outrageous bonuses paid to the AIG executives with the rationalization that they need the expertise these individuals have to continue operation. The complexities of the market in which AIG operates gives plausible rationale to this. But how much is a "fair compensation"?

Shouldn't the concept of contributory negligence or some similar concept be employed. These experts are needed to get themselves, and us, out of the mess THEY engineered and got them selves into. They should be appreciate that they are still employed and not in the courts or incarcerated.

Congress however with their righteous indignation is going after them but in this case, I cannot support this legislative effort. It seems to be blatantly punitive and directed as a specific group for punishment. That is a Bill of Attainder which is prohibited by our Constitution. The document which Congress has SWORN to uphold and defend. The legislation flies in the face of the Constitution and James Madison's comments in Federalist Number 44.

Please let us survive this Congress!

Bill of Attainder

Definition: A legislative act that singles out an individual or group for punishment without a trial.

The Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 9, paragraph 3 provides that: "No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law will be passed."

"The Bill of Attainder Clause was intended not as a narrow, technical (and therefore soon to be outmoded) prohibition, but rather as an implementation of the separation of powers, a general safeguard against legislative exercise of the judicial function or more simply - trial by legislature." U.S. v. Brown, 381 U.S. 437, 440 (1965).

"These clauses of the Constitution are not of the broad, general nature of the Due Process Clause, but refer to rather precise legal terms which had a meaning under English law at the time the Constitution was adopted. A bill of attainder was a legislative act that singled out one or more persons and imposed punishment on them, without benefit of trial. Such actions were regarded as odious by the framers of the Constitution because it was the traditional role of a court, judging an individual case, to impose punishment." William H. Rehnquist, The Supreme Court, page 166.

"Bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, and laws impairing the obligations of contracts, are contrary to the first principles of the social compact, and to every principle of sound legislation. ... The sober people of America are weary of the fluctuating policy which has directed the public councils. They have seen with regret and indignation that sudden changes and legislative interferences, in cases affecting personal rights, become jobs in the hands of enterprising and influential speculators, and snares to the more-industrious and less-informed part of the community." James Madison, Federalist Number 44, 1788.

Supreme Court cases construing the Bill of Attainder clause include:

• Ex Parte Garland, 4 Wallace 333 (1866).
• Cummings v. Missouri, 4 Wallace 277 (1866).
• U.S. v. Brown, 381 U.S. 437 (1965).
• Nixon v. Administrator of General Services, 433 U.S.425 (1977).
• Selective Service Administration v. Minnesota PIRG, 468 U.S. 841 (1984).

Quoted from http://www.techlawjournal.com/glossary/legal/attainder.htm

Update

I have been missing for a period of time but now feel compelled to share my thoughts.

In taking a view of business and the various challenges I think it is important to appreciate that one of the joys of business is the opportunity to work with and have contact with some exceptionally good people. We work in an environment where everyone expects perfection and we strive for perfection but sometimes try as hard as we may, perfection is elusive.

It is at those times that we are challenged; do we face the reality and accept responsibility, a rare item these days, and try to resolve the problem or do we rationalize or find fault elsewhere. Are the people we deal with looking to resolve the problem or looking for someone to fault?

Over the years I have found that being honest and working with others as you would like them to work with you, the golden rule, is truly the best approach. Finding those clients and friends who look to work together for the collective best interest of all is exceptionally comforting, if not contagious.

Sirach 6:14-17
A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure.
A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth.
A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds;
For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself.